High School Boys Lacrosse: Forest defeats Tallahassee Chiles on Senior Night

Forest didn’t waste a second, jumping to a strong lead against Tallahassee Chiles in a boys lacrosse match Wednesday night in Ocala.

The Wildcats scored their first goal five minutes into the match and pulled away for an 18-6 victory over the Timberwolves (2-15).

Junior Dallas Eason led the Wildcats (11-5) in scoring with a game-high five goals. He was one of eight players to score for the home team.

“Dallas Eason is a workhorse,” Forest head coach Kyle Strausser said. “He’s a kid that got brought up freshman year because we needed him. This years it's been ridiculous. He plays both ways, and he’s super athletic.”

Forest looked like it was in a different league than Chiles in the first half. The Wildcats took their foot off the pedal to start the third quarter, giving up three goals but securing five for themselves. The Wildcats snapped back to hold the road team to a single goal in the final frame.

The Wildcats are on a five-game winning streak to end the season. Let’s reflect on the highlights of their season and the outlook for their playoff run.

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Third double-digit win season in a row

The Lacrosse program at Forest is picking up steam. For the fifth time in the sport’s 12-year history, the Wildcats have won 10 or more games.

“We knew we needed a solid win going in,” Strausser said. “It’s the last regular season game, and we needed to help our ranking with the FHSAA.”

With eight seniors, it’s no surprise the program is hitting its stride. That’s the type of experience that grows the game and leads to a winning culture.

That group’s leadership will carry the Wildcats as far as they can. They’re hungry for success, and Strausser charged them with seeing it through to the end.

Forest star signs college offer

Samuel Martin isn’t the first Wildcat to make it to the next level, but he is the most recent. Two weeks ago, Forest's co-captain inked a letter of intent to play for the University of Montevallo, a Division II program in Alabama.

Martin’s versatility drew many suitors over his four-year varsity career. His skillset makes him a linchpin in the Wildcats’ success.

“He’s the heart and soul of this team without a doubt,” Strausser said. “Every kid looks up to him, whether it’s offense or defense. He’s that kid!”

Strausser knows he’ll have his hands full replacing his leadership and experience next season. They’ll miss the production, too. Martin was the team’s second-leading scorer Wednesday night with four goals.

The road through the postseason

Forest is jockeying for the top spot in its district tournament. Of the eight teams in their district, the Wildcats have played three, including bourgeoning rival Buchholz, who they beat 18-4 on March 9. They are 2-1 in district games, dropping a 9-5 match to Fleming Island.

“It depends on what the rankings are, but our goal at the beginning of the season was a district championship,” Strausser said. “These seniors worked so hard. If they don’t work hard enough to get there, it’s going to devastate them. They have the skill; we just have to execute.”

The last time the Wildcats clinched the top spot in districts, they won the whole thing.

Strausser gathered tape on each of their potential opponents all season. No matter how the seeding shakes out, expect the guys in the green and gold to be thoroughly prepared.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Forest lacrosse defeats Tallahassee Chiles to end the regular season